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Saturday, February 21, 2015

Island dwellings in Loch Linnhe.


 From Castle Stalker we enjoyed a brisk paddle sail across the Sound of Shuna in the offshore wind.

There are some modern conifer plantations on Shuna which being limestone is much more fertile than many of the west coast islands.

Shuna Castle is barely visible in the trees. It was built about the end of the 16th century by the Stewarts of Appin and used for about 200 years.

Shuna farmhouse which was built in the 1740's was a much more comfortable residence than the old castle.

 We were circumnavigating Shuna clockwise* and made the most...

*see comment from Frank below!

 ...of the SE wind until...

...we fell into the lee of the island which was a wild...

 ...place with rivulets running down the mossy rocks into the sea.

Near the north of the island we found a sheltered spot out of the SE wind for first luncheon. From here we has a grandstand view right up Loch Linnhe surrounded by the mountains of Ardgour, Appin and and Lochaber. Needless to say the view was enhanced by a dram of Mikes Jura Superstition.

Right in the centre of the view lay little Eilean Balnagowan which we had visited the day before. You can see the new "bothy" which has been built by the island's new owners.

3 comments:

  1. Are You really sure, it was an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Shuna?
    Or did You stiil feel superstitous ? ;-)))))

    Best regards,
    Frank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Frank, it was indeed clockwise, (I will correct it) must have been too much Jura Superstition! :o)

      Delete
  2. No, that looked like a wee dram, it's easier to get drunken from the beauty of the surrounding landscape. And there is stiill no Inn on Inn Island...

    ReplyDelete